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Rant on: Silverstar Ultras in my ST170's

1.4K views 19 replies 13 participants last post by  faster_than_u  
#1 ·
Well its been a few days shy of a year that I put my ST170s on my car. No complaints on the lights, of course, but the bulbs...oy! Naturally I put some Silverstar Ultras in at that time and, other than the PITA adjusting them just right, they've been pretty decent. Now I don't do a lot of night driving either seeing as I leave for work about 4am, so perhaps 20-30min per day, so I was under the impression that they'd last a little longer than a year. This morning, unfortunately, I discovered my passenger-side low beam has gone kaput.

<<doing a little math>>

30/day x (not quite) 365 days = 10,950 minutes. :(

I've had soft drinks that have lasted longer! Seriously, is that about right? Is there any decent bulb that A). lasts longer and B). lights up slightly brighter than a supernova available in a H7?
 
#2 ·
HIDs in the reflector housing ;) :lol:

Whenever I had silverstars in my cars, they have always lasted a while. I had a set in my stock SVT lights that I put in there almost 3 years ago, and they're still going strong on my Dad's car now. I had them in my ST170s, and they were great. When I got your MACHs (lol), I put them in the MACH high beams. I don't use them much anymore, but they still work. Oh I had a set in my Mustang too, and those lasted for the two years before I sold the car. Don't know how long they lasted after that...

I think Silverstars are hit or miss, unfortunately. I've had good luck with them, but I've heard of other replacing them quite frequently. If it was me, I would give the Silverstars once more try before looking for other bulbs
 
#5 ·
#4 ·
Yeah I dont use expensive bulbs in my headlights anymore I use the $8 bulbs after I went through 5 drivers bulbs(ultrastars) and 3 passenger side bulbs(also silverstar) in around 6 months... Needless to say its been more than 6 months and both of the cheapy bulbs havent burned out. I could care less that the light is a little yellow anyway.
 
#6 ·
I have the same exact problem with my ST170s using either the general silverstar bulbs or the ultrastar ones. In fact, I had to go on a little road trip and since I didn't want to waste more money on these bulbs since they go out so often I just swapped in 1 Mach HID in place of the entire ST170 housing. From the outside it looked horrible but driving wise I didn't notice much difference.

In fact, for those that care to know. The ST170 housings with the Silverstar Ultra bulbs actually projects light just as far as the Machs but at a much much wider angle of coverage while doing so. For all out light output IMO the ST170s are a better headlight.
 
#7 ·
Another question...I put my bulbs in before installing the headlights in my car. Anyone have a picture of the clip mechanism that holds the low beam H7's in on the back of the ST170s?
 
#13 ·
I don't but I can describe it to you if that helps :dunno:
 
#9 ·
Hella bulbs were about the same price too. I wonder if their any better?
 
#14 ·
Thanks, but I think I got it! :D
 
#17 ·
Doh! I feel like such a dumbass. I got the bulb switched out yesterday and was so happy about it, I didn't notice the access cover (I'd failed to put back on) until this morning. Nicely done!